Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said he believed a 'common space' of what it means to be British was on show at the London Olympic Games.

Speaking to the Today programme, he explained that a common space described "the essential values which are held in common... a belief in liberty, a belief in democracy and a belief in the rule of law".

Mr Blair, who was premier when London was awarded the games in 2005, said: "When we look at the country.... and we see its modern faces and all their diversity I think it's something that enriches our country."

But columnist Peter Hitchens criticised what he called a "new Britain".

He told James Naughtie: "We forget the old monarchist Christian country that used to be and we become funky rock music drug-taking Britain."

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